2018 Draft Prospect Profile: Mike Siani

Background
The 18-year-old Siani attends William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and is committed to Virginia. He’s only played six games so far this spring because of inclement weather, and because the prep season starts late in general in the Northeast.

Scouting Report
At 6-foot-1 and 180 lbs., Siani looks the part of a future big leaguer, and right now he stands out most for his center field defense. He’s a great athlete with above-average speed, and his outfield instincts allow that speed to play up in center. Add in a very strong arm — Siani has been up to 94 mph off the mound — and you’ve got a no-doubt long-term center fielder and potential Gold Glover. At the plate, the left-handed swinging Siani has good power, but mostly employs a slash-and-dash approach that allows him to use his speed. Once he reaches base, he’s a threat to steal as well. Siani has performed well against elite competition during showcase events, though he has not faced great competition as an amateur overall. It’s worth noting Siani has drawn praise for his worth ethic and high energy play.

Miscellany
Siani’s pre-draft rankings vary quite a bit. Keith Law (subs. req’d) ranks him as the 23rd best prospect in the draft class while MLB.com has him 35th. Baseball America ranks him 52nd. The Yankees hold the 23rd overall selection. For what it’s worth, Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen said the Yankees are in on Siani in their latest mock draft. Many clubs have refocused their Northeast scouting coverage after Mike Trout slipped through the cracks, so while Siani has not played much this spring, I’m sure he’ll have plenty of eyes on him in the coming weeks.